Hey all! New to these forums but a squarebody fan since my first truck!
The first photo is me at 15 years old standing in front of a 1976 C10 that I gave $1,400 for. It had a 400 small block, B&M slap stick, traction bars and was hands down the best vehicle I ever owned. Sadly, a couple years later, I saw a Corvette in a field (1981, 350, t-tops, automatic) that I traded the truck for. Today that is my biggest regret! I would love to track my old truck down but don't know where to start...
That being said - before my mom (standing next to me in the profile pic) passed away from cancer in 2013 at 49, she gave me what little money she had stashed back for my inheritance and told me that I needed to go find myself a "
good" truck. She was referring to my first truck so I began to search. I found a 1976 K10 (also a step-side) about an hour away and with $1,400 cash in hand, picked up what is one of my most prized possessions. It may not look like much now but it will. With a wife-unit and three kids I haven't had much time to work on it as much as I would like. But the last 3 months or so I have been drawn to working on it more and more.
Since purchasing the truck I have rebuilt the hubs, repaired the rusted out floor numerous times (it was a mudded quite a bit before I got it), added new tail lights and just basically normal maintenance until recently. Starting a few months back I removed the bed, dropped the gas tank out (have a new replacement), replaced the leaf spring front hangers, shocks, bushings and shackles.
I do have a cab from an 86 model that is completely rust free that I paid $200
for that I will be swapping out as my original is nearly shot (too much rust through). I have already coated the underside of the new cab with bed liner to keep it protected. (See the before and after in the photos)
You can view my ongoing project photos
here. Project thread
can be found here!
I am thinking of doing an LS swap but still undecided. Currently, it has a 350 that needs quite a bit of work.
Have I mentioned I am not a mechanic? I am a senior web designer/developer so this is something that I am learning as I go. I have my old man come over to show me a few things when he is able and my son helps out where he can too. This truck IS family to me.
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